Method for manufacturing yarn consisting of fibers and filaments

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus for producing a yarn composed by a bundle of filaments with which fibers or staples are interlaced which are blown in the desired quantity by means of a jet of air or gas by a metering device and thereafter are conveyed by the jet on the bundle of filaments in an interlacing device. Preferably a part of the jet of air or gas is guided through the metering device and cooperates with the same, and this part of the jet is combined with another part of the jet passing outside the metering device before the interlacing device or within the same. The jet of air or gas guided through the metering device may be intermittent and also the feeding of staples or fibers to the jet of air or gas by the metering device may be intermittent.

United States Patent Callieri et al.

[4 June 27, 1972 54] METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING 3,439,491 4/1969 Scruggs..57/6 x YARN CONSISTING OF FIBERS AND FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONSFILAMENTS 1,263,217 11/1958 Germany ..28/1.4 [72] inventors: MicheleCallieri; Giorgio Faraci, both of 60223110; Mario Pal'acchllli, PrimaryExaminerLouis K. Rimrodt g m n all of ly Attorney-Diner, Brown, Ramik &Holt [73] Assignee: Bemberg S.p.A., Milan, Italy ABSTRACT [22] Fned:1970 A method and an apparatus for producing a yarn composed by [2]] A N65,006 a bundle of filaments with which fibers or staples are interlacedwhich are blown in the desired quantity by means of a jet of air or gasby a metering device and thereafter are conveyed Application Dam by thejet on the bundle of filaments in an interlacing device. Preferably apart of the jet of air or gas is guided through the Aug. 30, 1969 Italy..21470 A/69 metering device and cooperates with the Same, and this panof the jet is combined with another part of the jet passing outside [52]U.S. CI ..57/l57 F the metering device before [he interlacing device orwithin the [51] Int. Cl Same. The j f air or g g i through the meteringdevice [58] Field of Search 24/1 .4, 72. l 2; 57/5, 6, 157 F, may beintermittent and also the feeding 0f staples or fibers to 57/10 B, 34 Bthe jet of air or gas by the metering device may be intermittent. [56]References Cited 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS i3,043,087 7/1962 Breen et a1. .....5 7/1 7 F H 21 ll P4 i l 1 i 19 Y I Ii 12\ l' v 1 L L:\\\ T 2 I 1 I I I I i 1 1 I l 14 10 PATENTEDJUHN 1972SHEET 2 0F 2 MICHELE CQLUERL &\1 NPR) PHRQCCH|N\ BY amnem PRRHCINVENTORS/ I J M A OIZNEYS METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING YARN CONSISTING FFIBERS AND FILAMENTS The invention relates to a process for themanufacture of a yarn consisting of a bundle of filaments and fibers,according to which the fibers are blown on to the filament bundle by agas or air stream and are interlaced by this gas or air stream withthefilament bundle in an interlacing device. The invention alsocomprises an apparatus for carrying out this process, as well as a yarnbuilt up from fibers and filaments with the aid of the process.

Such a process is known. In this known process fibers are blown by anair stream on to the filament bundle and interlaced with it by theaction of the air stream on the filaments. It is also known to providethe interlacing device with a hopper, from which fibers are fed to theinterlacing device, the fibers then having to be interlaced with thefilament bundle by a separate air stream.

It is essential that the yarns made in such a way should have a regularappearance. This regularity may consist in. that a constant amount offibers interlaced with the filaments is present over the length of theyarn; however, it is also possible that the amount of fibers variesregularly between specific values. The latter yarn then has anunevenness characterized by regularity. The yarns prepared by the knownmethod do not yet come up sufficiently to this requirement ofregularity, because the distribution of the fibers over the length isnot yet fully under control. The result is that in a thick-thin yarn theaccumulations of fibers over the length are unequal and that in a yarnthat must have a uniform thickness there still occur thick-thindifferences.

The invention has for its object to provide a process of the typementioned, in which the above drawbacks have been obviated.

The invention consists in that the gas or air stream cooperates with ametering device for incorporating the desired amount of fibers into thegas or air stream. In this way the metering of the fibers to thefilament bundle can be accurately controlled, so that a yarn can beobtained with either a very regular distribution of fibers over thelength or a regular distribution of fiber accumulations over the length.

lt should be added that the invention is not restricted to theapplication of a gas or air stream, but that a stream of any fluid, forinstance a vapor, by which fibers can be interlaced with a filamentbundle, may be used for performing the process according to theinvention.

A favorable embodiment of the process according to the invention isobtained if it is characterized in that the gas or air stream is guidedthrough the fiber metering device. In this way the fibers are carriedalong directly by the air stream as soon as they have been released bythe metering device. Another favorable embodiment of the processaccording to the invention is obtained if it is characterized in thatpart of the gas or air stream is guided through a fiber metering deviceor cooperates with it, and before or in the interlacing device iscombined with the gas or air stream which has passed outside the fibermetering device.

An effective embodiment of the process is characterized in that the gasor air stream guided through or co-operating with the fiber meteringdevice is intermittent or fluctuating, and intermittently obtains apressure higher than that of the gas or air stream passing outside thefiber metering device. By this process a yarn with an uneven surface canbe obtained, because a varying amount of fibers are interlaced with thefilaments over the length of the yarn, while it is yet possible in thisway to effect this unevenness at regular distances.

An efi'ective embodiment of the process according to the invention isalso obtained if it is characterized in that the metering devicesupplies the fibers to the air stream in an intermittent manner. The airstream guided through or co-operating with the fiber metering devicethen preferably is intermittent and the frequency of this intermittentair stream is equal to the frequency with which the fibers are suppliedto the air stream by the fiber metering device. Thus a yarn is obtainedwhich has a very regular distribution of fibers over the length and avery attractive voluminous character.

An efiective embodiment of the invention is obtained if it ischaracterized in that the fibers are formed by the cutting actionexerted by a knife, which moves, preferably rotates, in the meteringdevice, on a sliver or filament bundle which is supplied to the meteringdevice via supply members. The sliver or filament bundle can verysuitably be supplied by mechanical means, for instance with the aid ofpinch rollersor clamping strips, or by pneumatic means. In the lattercase an air jet directed along the sliver or bundle carries the sliveror bundle to the cutting point in the metering device.

A favorable embodiment of an apparatus for carrying out said process,which apparatus is equipped with an interlacing v device containing achamber with a supply and a discharge opening for the yarn and aninterlacing air inlet towhich an air supply channel is connected, ischaracterized in that a fiber metering device is present which opensinto the air supply channel.

A favorable embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention isalso obtained if the fiber metering device opens into a second airsupply channel, which is connected, between the fiber metering deviceand the interlacing device, to the first air supply channel, which isconnected to the interlacing air opening of the interlacing device.

A very compact embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention isattained if the fiber metering device is constructed as a cutting devicecontaining a knife rotatable in a housing, said housing near itscircumference being provided withtwo openings, facing each other, towhich the air supply channel is connected, the cutting device alsocontaining one or more pinch rollers for supplying the thread to thecutting point. After cutting, the rotating knife transports the fibersfrom the cutting point to before the openings, so that the constant orintermittent air stream in the air supply channel can carry off thefibers and blow them on to the filaments in the interlacing device. 7

A very effective embodiment according to the invention is obtained ifthe apparatus is characterized in that a valve member formed by arotatable air valve is fitted in the second air supply channel, in thatthe knife, the pinch rollers and the air valve are operated by onedrive, and in that the latter is constructed in such a way that thetransmission ratios of the drive of the knife, the pinch rollers and theair valve are adjustable. With the rotatable air valve the air pulsescan be supplied very accurately, and with the adjustable drive the fiberlengths and the fiber distribution over the length of the yarn can beset very accurately to the desired values.

The yarns made by the method and apparatus have an appearance that makesthem suitable for many uses. it is possible to combine filaments andfibers of the same type of fiber or diflerent; in the latter case, thereis, we can say, no limitation to the choice of filaments and fibers tocombine.

By the method according to the invention, the fibers, consisting of abundle of short fibers, blown against the filaments bundle by the air orgas stream, are strongly interlaced with the filaments bundle, whichfilaments are then interlaced together. The resulting yarn has a veryclose appearance, with many fiber ends emerging free in the points wherethe fibers have been blown and interlaced.

Method and apparatus can be used combined with other processes of yarnproduction. For instance, it has been stated particularly favorable, thecombination of method and apparatus according to the invention with thedraw-twisting process of synthetic fibers, as polyamides and polyesters.In that specific case the filaments bundle is formed by the syntheticyarn coming from the drawing path and the apparatus according to theinvention is placed immediately after the drawing path and before thetwist spindle The frequence of interlaced fibers on the filamentsbundle, in the method according to the invention, is convenientlyadjustable according to the desired effect: at this aim, can beappropriately varied the running speed of the filaments bundle and thefeeding speed of the fibers blown by the air or gas stream.

The length of the fibers can be varied within certain limits. Thislength is pref. 2-5 mm.

The pressure of the air feeded through the channel passing outside themetering device is adjustable according to the speed of the filamentsbundle that goes through the apparatus according to the invention; pref.this pressure is within 2-4 atm. The pressure of the air or the gas thatgoes through the fibers metering device, will change correspondentlybetween 3 and atrn.

The invention will now be further described with reference to theschematic drawing.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the process according to the invention.

FIG. 2 gives an-other embodiment of the process according to theinvention.

FIG. 3 shows yet another embodiment of the process according to theinvention.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the apparatus according to the inventionpartly in longitudinal view and partly in crosssection.

FIG. 5 is a cross'section of FIG. 4 along V-V.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of FIG. 4 along VI-VI.

In FIGS. 1-6 corresponding parts are indicated by the same numerals.

In FIGS. 1-6 the numeral 1 indicates the filament bundle which is guidedthrough the yarn supply opening 3 in the interlacing device and which,with the fibers tangled on to it, leaves the interlacing device at thedischarge opening 4. The fiber metering device is indicated by 7. Thefibers are supplied through channel 9. Compressed air is suppliedthrough channel 8, which is connected to the interlacing air supplyopening 5 of the interlacing device 2.

v In FIGS. 2-6, 10 indicates the second air supply channel into whichopens the fiber metering device 7. The air stream in channel 10 hasenough pressure. to transport the fibers to within channel 8 after theyhave been incorporated into the stream.

In FIGS. 3-6, 11 indicates the sliver on the filament bundle which issupplied to the fiber metering device 7. A knife rotatable in the fibermetering device is indicated by 12.

The pinch rollers supplying the thread 11 to the fiber metering deviceare indicated by 13. The housing 14 accommodating the rotatable knife 12contains the openings 15 and 16, facing each other, to which isconnected the second air supply channel 10.

In the air supply channel 10 the rotatable air valve 17 is fitted.

The knife 12 has a driving shaft 18. The pinch rollers l3 have a commongdriving shaft 19. The rotatable air valve 17 has a driving shaft 20.

On shafts 19, 20 the pulleys 21 are mounted which are together driven bythe belt 22. The transmission ratios on shafts 19, 20 can be adjusted bymounting pulleys of other diameters. A common belt drive 23 drives thegears 24 and 25, mounted respectively on shafts 18 and 20. These gears,being equal, guarantee the rotation synchronisme of shafts l8 and 20.

A production machine will include a certain number of production unitsas described. All these units will be driven therefore by the belt 23.

What is claimed is:

l. A process for the manufacture of a yarn comprising a bundle offilaments and fibers according to which the fibers are blown on to thefilament bundle by a gaseous stream and are interlaced by this gaseousstream with the filament bundle in an interlacing device, characterizedin that the gaseous.

stream cooperates with a fiber metering device for incorporating thedesired amount of fibers into the gaseous stream.

2. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaseousstream is guided through the fiber metering device.

3. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that flow of part ofthe gaseous stream is a selected one of being guided through the fibermetering device and cooperating with it, and is combined with thegaseous stream which has passed outside the fiber metering deviceselectively between before and in the interlacing device.

4. A process according to claim 3, characterized in that said flow ofpart of the gaseous stream is a selected one of being intermittent andfluctuating, and intermittently obtains a pressure higher than that ofthe gaseous stream passing outside the fiber metering device.

5. A process according to one of the claim 3, characterized in that themetering device supplies the fibers to the air stream in an intermittentmanner.

6. A process according to claim 5, characterized in that said flow ofpart of the gaseous stream is intermittent and in that the frequency ofthe intermittent gaseous stream is equal to the frequency with which thefibers are supplied to the gaseous streamby the fiber metering device.

7. A process according to claim 6, characterized in that the fibers areformed by the cutting action exerted by a knife, which operates, in themetering device, on a filament which is supplied to the metering devicevia supply members.

Data as Aug. 30, 1969 g g gg UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No. 3 672,, 7 Dated June 27 1972 Inventor(s) MICHELECALLIERI GIORGIO FARACI. and MARIO PARACCHINI It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

On the abstract page, read the Foreign Application Priority- Italy 21478A/69 Signed and sealed this 17th day of Ootober 1972.

(SEAL) Attest: I

' EDWARD' M.FLETCHEIR,.J'R-. a ROBERT GO'I'TSCHALK Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

1. A process for the manufacture of a yarn comprising a bundle offilaments and fibers according to which the fibers are blown on to thefilament bundle by a gaseous stream and are interlaced by this gaseousstream with the filament bundle in an interlacing device, characterizedin that the gaseous stream co-operates with a fiber metering device forincorporating the desired amount of fibers into the gaseous stream.
 2. Aprocess according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaseous streamis guided through the fiber metering device.
 3. A process according toclaim 1, characterized in that flow of part of the gaseous stream is aselected one of being guided through the fiber metering device andcooperating with it, and is combined with the gaseous stream which haspassed outside the fiber metering device selectively between before andin the interlacing device.
 4. A process according to claim 3,characterized in that said flow of part of the gaseous stream is aselected one of being intermittent and fluctuating, and intermittentlyobtains a pressure higher than that of the gaseous stream passingoutside the fiber metering device.
 5. A process according to one of theclaim 3, characterized in that the metering device supplies the fibersto the air stream in an intermittent manner.
 6. A process according toclaim 5, characterized in that said flow of part of the gaseous streamis intermittent and in that the frequency of the intermittent gaseousstream is equal to the frequency with which the fibers are supplied tothe gaseous stream by the fiber metering device.
 7. A process accordingto claim 6, characterized in that the fibers are formed by the cuttingaction exerted by a knife, which operates, in the metering device, on afilament which is supplied to the metering device via supply members.